Health Commissioner Suspends Buffalo Area Doctor's License

ALBANY, May 6, 2007 – State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., has used his emergency powers to summarily suspend the license of a West Seneca physician based on multiple charges, including willful physical and verbal abuse, moral unfitness, fraudulent practice and gross negligence. A summary suspension of a physician's license precludes the physician from caring for any patients.

Ivan D'Souza, M.D., 53, an obstetrician-gynecologist with offices in West Seneca and Springville, is charged with 43 specifications of medical misconduct regarding 11 patients. Dr. D'Souza is also charged with gross incompetence, negligence on more than one occasion, incompetence on more than one occasion and failure to maintain records.

The summary suspension is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the State Department of Health's Office of Professional Medical Conduct, the West Seneca Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney's office. Dr. D'Souza was recently arrested by the West Seneca Police and charged with misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse.

A hearing on the Department of Health charges has been scheduled for May 15 and 16, 2007.

Information about disciplinary actions taken against physicians licensed in New York State is available from the State Health Department's Web site www.health.ny.gov.